Demountable swing seat construction for counters and the like

ABSTRACT

Rapid and simplified installation of a counter swing seat is achieved by combining a pedestal base with a mating pedestal body and an elongated tie-rod member. The base is designed to be quickly and conveniently secured to a floor surface. An elongated vertically disposed tie-rod is housed in the hollow pedestal body whose underside mates with and engages around outer edges of the base in interlocking relationship therewith. The hollow pedestal body is constructed with an upper seat supporting bracket structure having at one side a tubular section in which the tierod is rigidly secured. The bracket structure supports a seat assembly for rotative movement. Body weight forces on the seat are received and distributed throughout the hollow pedestal structure and the pedestal base in a manner to resist loosening or displacement of the parts and all fastening elements are concealed from view within the pedestal body.

Sparrow Nov. 18, 1975 DEMOUNTABLE SWING SEAT CONSTRUCTION FOR COUNTERSAND THE LIKE Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Munroe H. Hamilton ABSTRACT Rapid and simplified installation of acounter swing seat is achieved by combining a pedestal base with amating pedestal body and an elongated tie-rod member. The base isdesigned to be quickly and conveniently secured to a floor surface. Anelongated vertically disposed tie-rod is housed in the hollow pedestalbody whose underside mates with and engages around outer edges of thebase in interlocking relationship therewith. The hollow pedestal body isconstructed with an upper seat supporting bracket structure having atone side a tubular section in which the tie-rod is rigidly secured. Thebracket structure supports a seat assembly for rotative movement. Bodyweight forces on the seat are received and distributed throughout thehollow pedestal structure and the pedestal base in a manner to resistloosening or displacement of the parts and all fastening elements areconcealed from view within the pedestal body.

6 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 1 of33,920,276

US. Patent Nov. 18,1975 Sheet2 of3 3,920,276

DEMOUNTABLE SWING SEAT CONSTRUCTION FOR COUNTERS AND THE LIKE BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION Swing seats are well-known in the art for use in bankcounters and various other counter stations where it is desired to swinga seat member into and out of a stored under-counter position. Presentlyin use are three different types of swing seats including a pedestaltype which is bolted to a floor surface; a bracket type in which abracket member is fastened to a vertical wall surface; and a pole typein which both a wall bracket and a floor supported pole are arranged.Typical of the pedestal class of swing seat is that disclosed in US.Pat. No. 3,708,203 to Barecki, et al., and various other patents citedtherein. In the Barecki seat, as well as others, the mounting structureis customarily secured by bolts or screws which are exposed to view in arather unsightly manner and there may develop a lack of stability,particularly with pedestal type seats where bolts or fastenings at oneside of the pedestal base are subjected to much greater stresses thanthose at an opposite side. To avoid this, the fastenings are required tobe very solidly secured involving procedures which make installationsomewhat difficult and time-consuming.

SUMMATION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with swingseats of the pedestal type and comprises an improved demountable swingseat construction wherein a chief object is to provide an improved seatassembly which is of attractive streamlined appearance and which iscapable of being installed by a simplified and rapid assembly operation.It is a further object of the invention to devise an assembly ofinterlocking parts which provide for greatly increased stability andresistance to unbalanced body weight forces. Still another object is toprovide a combination of fastenings and interlocking parts wherein thefastenings are concealed from view and the components are arranged totransmit and distribute unbalanced forces resulting from body weight ina manner which minimizes stresses being localized at any one point orside of the pedestal structure.

With the foregoing objectives in mind, I have devised a demountablepedestal structure which includes a pedestal mounting base and a hollowmating pedestal body capable of being quickly positioned over the baseand secured thereto in solidly interlocked relationship.

An important component in this demountable base structure is anelongated threaded tie-rod which is internally located within the matingpedestal body in a position to conveniently secure the parts together.When thus installed, the elongated tie-rod also functions by reason ofits design and rigidity to transmit body weight forces exerted at thetop of the pedestal body and to distribute these forces throughout thepedestal mounting base in a manner which prevents stresses from becominglocalized at one point or side of BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a counter structure andshowing the demountable swing seat of the invention located in anoperative position at one side of the counter;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the swing seat in a fully extended position andalso indicating in dotted lines a stored under-counter position of theswing seat;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the swing seat assembly;

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional detail view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pedesta mounting baseelement of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the pedestal structure which interlockswith the pedestal base of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the assembled seat construction;

FIG. 10 is a cross section taken on the line l0-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a detail perspective view;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view of seat adjustment means.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring more indetail to the demountable pedestal structure and swing seat assemblyillustrated in FIGS. 1 to 12, inclusive, numeral 2 denotes a counterwhich is intended to be illustrative or a bank counter, at one side ofwhich a bank teller, cashier or other attendant may be required to beseated. The swing seat of the invention will be described with specialreference to this type of counter, however, it should be understood thatthe invention may also be utilized with various other types ofinstallations where a swing seat is to be installed for movement intoand out of a stored position.

As shown in FIG. 1, the counter 2 is supported on side walls as 3 and 4extending upwardly from a floor 6. In one preferred arrangement of aswing seat with respect to the counter 2, it is desirable to locate thebottom of the pedestal member in a position such that it does notproject appreciably outwardly beyond the wall 4, and it will be notedthat such a location of pedestal bottom has been illustrated in FIG. 2.

As earlier noted, the principal parts of my demountable pedestalstructure include a pedestal mounting base, a hollow mating pedestalbody and an elongated threaded tie-rod. The pedestal mounting base ismost clearly shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 10 and is denoted by the numeral 8.The hollow mating pedestal body is denoted by numeral 9 and its bottomside is most clearly shown in FIG. 8. The tie-rod member is shown inFIG. 7 and is denoted by numeral 34.

As will be seen from an inspection of FIG. 7, the mounting base 8 is ofa generally rectilinear shape and is preferably constructed of solidmetal plate such as steel or aluminum. Along outer sides the base isrecessed to provide relievedguide edges l0, l2, l4 and 16 which aredesigned to mate with and fit tightly inside of complementary bottomedges 18, 20, 22 and 24 of the hollow pedestal body 9 (FIG. 6). FIG. 7indicates the pedestal base 8 solidly secured to the floor 6 by In FIGS.1 and 2, the seat 70 and arm 62 are shown Y 3 means of bolts or otherthreaded fastenings as 26, 28, 30 and 32. These fastenings are receivedthrough holes in the base member andv may, for example, be driven intoformed openings provided in the floor 6.

With the pedestal base thus solidly anchored, the hollow pedestal body 9may be quickly positioned over the base with the recessed edges 10, I2and 14 and 16 guiding the pedestal bottom into interlocking relationwith edges 18, 20, 22 and 24, and with the tie-rod 34 being locked in apositiion to engage with the top of the pedestal body as noted in moredetail below.

As shown in FIG. 7 the lower end of the rod 34 is preferably engaged inthe pedestal base by means of a threaded bottom section and is held in avertically disposed fixed position by retaining nut 37. The tie-rod maybe comprised by a rigid steel rod member of a diameter of, for example,from one-half inch to three quarters of an inch or longer. The upper endof the rod 34 is also threaded and is housed in the top section of thepedestal body 9, as suggested in FIGS. 6 and 10. The pedestal body, asshown in FIGS. 6 and 10, and also FIG. 2 has a base section which isformed with sloping sides as 40 and 42 which merge with an upwardlyextending tubular bracket section 44. This combination of parts providesa trapezoidally reinforced base section of increased area especiallysuited to resisting twisting or torque forces exerted through arotatable swing seat carrying body weight.

At the top of the tubular bracket section 44 is a re cessed retainingcollar or flange 46. The tie-rod member 34, as is best shown in FIG. 6projects upwardly through the collar 46 against which a retaining nut48, threaded around the upper extremity of the rod 34, tightly engagesto clamp the tubular housing and the lower section of the pedestal bodyagainst the pedestal base in solidly interlocked relationship.

It will be observed that the collar portion 46 is located well below thetop edge of the tubular section 44 so that there is provided a well inwhich the nut 48 may be conveniently positioned and threaded around therod and when thus positioned, may be concealed from view. A cap 50detachably fitted into the well covers the opening and provides acompletely streamlined appearance with no unsightly fastening membersbeing exposed to view at any point along the outer surface of thepedestal body.

Formed integrally with the tubular bracket section 44 at one sidethereof, are upper and lower bracket portions 52 and 54 which projecthorizontally outwardly and which are spaced apart and rigidly supportedby a vertical supporting web 56. Outer extremities of the bracketportions 52 and 54 have located therebetween a pivot element 58 andabout this pivot element is rotatably mounted a sleeve part 60. Thesleeve part 60 has extending angularly upwardly therefrom an arm 62which supports a threaded cylindrical holder 64.

In the holder 64 is adjustably received a threaded seat post 68, thelower end of which projects downwardly from the holder as shown in FIG.3. The seat member can be vertically adjusted as desired by rotating thepost 68 in the holder 64. Horizontal adjustment of the seat 70 may alsobe carried out by means of a locking slide mechanism 72. This slide maybe pulled out against theresistance of a'spring 73, as shown in FIGS. 11and 12. When the slide is thus disengaged a bottom guide plate 74 isfree to be slid forwardly or rearwardly in rails as 76 and 78.

in a fully extended position away from the countertop 2, and these partsmay be held in this position by. means of locking pins 54a and 54b fixedin the part 54, as is i more clearly shown in FIG. 4. The sleeve part isformed with mating openings 60a and 60b which can be engaged over thepins as desired. By lifting the bracket. I

quickly carried out by securing the base in a desired pof sition andthen fitting the hollow pedestal body down around the guide edges of thebase relationship. interlocking reationship. At the same time thetie-rod is guided through, the column member 46 and while in thisposition, the retaining nut 48 is engaged and tightly threaded into aclamped position. The entire operation described can be very quicklycarried out with a minimum of labor and preparation. The assemblyresults in the components being rigidly secured together in interlockingrelationship with one another in a maner to resist unbalanced bodyweight forces.

It is pointed out that with the arrangement of parts described, greatlyincreased resistance to load forces is realized. By locating the tie-rodmember 34 internally of the pedestal body and inside the edges of thepedestal base, not only are the parts capable of being solidly securedtogether, but body weight forces exerted I through the upper and lowerhorizontally projecting portions 52 and 54. and their connecting web-56,are rigidly supported and distributed in an effective manner.

Thus, with the seat 70 in the extended position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2and carrying body weight, forces are exerted through the bracketportions 52 and 54 which place these parts in tension and compression.As a re-.

sult, the tie-rod member 34 is in compression with load forces beingtransmitted through the tie-rod to the ped-. estal base. The transmittedforces are therefore distributed over a relatively large bearing areainstead of a relatively small beariing area such as would be comprisedby outer bottom edges of just the pedestal body. Strength and ease ofinstalltion are therefore combined in a unique manner with a smoothlycontoured exterior of an attractive nature and with all fastening means.i

being completely concealed.

I claim: 1. A demountable swing seat construction for supporting bodyweight of a userin varying positions of ad- 55 justment, said swing seatconstruction including a pedestal base member consisting in arectangularly shaped base plate, fastening means for securing the baseplate to a supporting surface, a hollow pedestal body overlying the baseplate, a tubular load sustaining column extending vertically upwardly atone side of the pedestal] body and being solidly anchored to the baseplate, a

weight bearing bracket structure vertically disposed at an opposite sideof the pedestal body in spaced relation to the tubular load sustainingcolumn, a reinforcing site end of the supporting arm for receiviing bodyweight of a user.

2. A structure according to claim 1 in which the pedestal body is formedwith an enlarged bottom section and said tubular load sustaining columnand reinforcing web cooperate with the weight bearing bracket structureto distribute load forces throughout the enlarged bottom section of thepedestal body.

3. A structure according to claim 1 in which the weight bearing bracketstructure is located in projecting relationship with respect to one sideof the pedestal to permit swinging the said supporting arm and the seatmember bearing body weight in an extended arc of rotation through arange of positions of adjustment occurring in variably spaced relationto the said pedestal body.

4. A structure according to claim 1 in which the pedestal body is formedwith an enlarged lower section defined by bottom bearing edges foroverlying and mating with the rectangular base member and for engagingagainst the said supporting surface and said enlarged lower section ofthe pedestal body being formed with angularly disposed side wall meansextending upwardly to brace the said tubular load ssustaining column,the reinforcing web and the weight bearing bracket structure when thearm and seat member is swung through varying positions of adjustmentrelative to the hollow pedestal body.

5. A structure according to claim 4 in which the angularly disposed sidewall means includes two side wall portions which occur in intersectingrelationship to one another to form a V-shaped resisting rib.

6. In a bank counter construction of the class presenting anundercounter storage space defined by a counter top section, a floorsection lying directly below the said top section, a vertical front wallsection and a vertical side wall section extending inwardly under thecounter top at right angles to the front wall section, the combinationof an adjustable bank counter swing seat for supporting body weight of auser in varying positions of adjustment relative to the counter andbeing movable into a stored position beneath the said counter topsection when not in use, said swing seat including a base plate,fastening means for securing the base plate on said floor section belowthe counter top section, a hollow pedestal body overlying the base plateand located below the said counter top section, a tubular loadsustaining column extending vertically upwardly at an inner side of thepedestal body and being solidly anchored to the base plate, a weightbearing bracket structure vertically disposed at an opposite outer sideof the pedestal body in spaced relation to the tubular load sustainingcolumn in a postion to project outwardly beyond the counter top section,a seat supporting arm, a seat for receiving body weight of a useradjustably mounted at one end of the arm, the opposite side of said armbeing rotatably mounted in the said bracket structure for locating theseat in the storage space and swinging the seat outwardly through anextended arc of rotation into a range of positions of adjustment.

1. A demountable swing seat construction for supporting body weight of auser in varying positions of adjustment, said swing seat constructionincluding a pedestal base member consisting in a rectangularly shapedbase plate, fastening means for securing the base plate to a supportingsurface, a hollow pedestal body overlying the base plate, a tubular loadsustaining column extending vertically upwardly at one side of thepedestal body and being solidly anchored to the base plate, a weightbearing bracket structure vertically disposed at an opposite side of thepedestal body in spaced relation to the tubular load sustaining column,a reinforcing web rigidly disposed between the load sustaining columnand the weight bearing bracket structure, a seat supporting armrotatably mounted in the bracket structure and a seat member adjustablylocated at the opposite end of the supporting arm for receiviing bodyweight of a user.
 2. A structure according to claim 1 in which thepedestal body is formed with an enlarged bottom section and said tubularload sustaining column and reinforcing web cooperate with the weightbearing bracket structure to distribute load forces throughout theenlarged bottom section of the pedestal body.
 3. A structure accordingto claim 1 in which the weight bearing bracket structure is located inprojecting relationship with respect to one side of the pedestal topermit swinging the said supporting arm and the seat member bearing bodyweight in an extended arc of rotation through a range of positions ofadjustment occurring in variably spaced relation to the said pedestalbody.
 4. A structure according to claim 1 in which the pedestal body isformed with an enlarged lower section defined by bottom bearing edgesfor overlying and mating with the rectangular base member and forengaging against the said supporting surface and said enlarged lowersection of the pedestal body being formed with angularly disposed sidewall means extending upwardly to brace the said tubular load ssustaininGcolumn, the reinforcing web and the weight bearing bracket structurewhen the arm and seat member is swung through varying positions ofadjustment relative to the hollow pedestal body.
 5. A structureaccording to claim 4 in which the angularly disposed side wall meansincludes two side wall portions which occur in intersecting relationshipto one another to form a V-shaped resisting rib.
 6. In a bank counterconstruction of the class presenting an undercounter storage spacedefined by a counter top section, a floor section lying directly belowthe said top section, a vertical front wall section and a vertical sidewall section extending inwardly under the counter top at right angles tothe front wall section, the combination of an adjustable bank counterswing seat for supporting body weight of a user in varying positions ofadjustment relative to the counter and being movable into a storedposition beneath the said counter top section when not in use, saidswing seat including a base plate, fastening means for securing the baseplate on said floor section below the counter top section, a hollowpedestal body overlying the base plate and located below the saidcounter top section, a tubular load sustaining column extendingvertically upwardly at an inner side of the pedestal body and beingsolidly anchored to the base plate, a weight bearing bracket structurevertically disposed at an opposite outer side of the pedestal body inspaced relation to the tubular load sustaining column in a postion toproject outwardly beyond the counter top section, a seat supporting arm,a seat for receiving body weight of a user adjustably mounted at one endof the arm, the opposite side of said arm being rotatably mounted in thesaid bracket structure for locating the seat in the storage space andswinging the seat outwardly through an extended arc of rotation into arange of positions of adjustment.